Reds @ Dodgers August 26, 2025: Dodgers look for a series win on Kershaw Day, Enrique Hernandez returns to the lineup

The Dodgers (75-57) played their most complete game in a minute last night, as Emmet Sheehan allowed two hits and a walk over seven shutout innings and Andy Pages and Mookie Betts did damage offensively for a 7-0 win. The Mariners took down the Padres and the Mets rocked the Phillies, giving the Dodgers a game lead in the West and moving them 1.5 back of the Phillies for the two seed in the NL and first round bye. Today, the Dodgers have a chance for a series win against a pitcher that’s owned them in the past.

	7:10 P.M.		Los Angeles
1B	Steer	DH	Ohtani (L)
CF	Marte	SS	Betts
SS	De La Cruz (S)	1B	Freeman (L)
DH	Andujar	C	Smith
LF	Hays	RF	T. Hernández
C	Trevino	CF	Pages
3B	Hayes	LF	Conforto (L)
RF	Espinal	3B	K. Hernández
2B	McLain	2B	Freeland (S)
P	Martinez (R)	P	Kershaw (L)

Clayton Kershaw makes his 17th start of the season, which feels insane to me. He’s been mostly effective with a 3.13 ERA and 3.79 FIP despite basically not striking anyone out anymore. His 15.3 percent strikeout rate is the eighth-lowest among pitchers with more than 80 innings pitched this season, but he’s still quietly turning in solid outings. He did struggle a bit in July, but has been much better so far in August. The Dodgers have won each of his four starts this month and he’s allowed five runs in 23 2/3 innings. He went six innings in his first three starts this month, but fell just short of that last time out in Colorado. He got Moriyama’d in the first inning (single, sac bunt, balk and RBI groundout) and allowed another run in the fourth, but was mostly good up until the sixth. He got two quick outs but allowed a walk and two singles to drive in his third run of the game. He got pulled for Ben Casparius, who loaded the bases with a walk but got a flyout to end the threat and close Kershaw’s line. Kershaw hasn’t seen the Reds since June 2023, but he threw seven shutout with nine strikeouts in that game.

Nick Martinez gets the ball for the Reds, which is generally bad news for the Dodgers. Martinez has faced the Dodgers 12 times in his career (mostly as a reliever, but two starts) and has some pretty unreal numbers. In 30 2/3 innings, Martinez has a 1.76 ERA, .880 WHIP and .494 OPS against the Dodgers. His next-best OPS against a team is a .605 against the Marlins. Most of those outings came as a Padre in 2022 and 2023, but he’s continued his success as a Red. Last season, Martinez appeared twice in relief and allowed a single and a double over 9 1/3 innings. The Dodgers actually scored off Martinez when they saw him in Cincinnati back in July. He allowed two runs on four hits over six innings with seven strikeouts, but Freddie Freeman took him deep in the fourth and the Dodgers eventually won 5-2.

Martinez hasn’t had the smoothest season this year, with a 4.59 ERA/4.29 FIP in a career-high 145 innings. Most of his outings have been relatively fine, but he’s turned in his share of absolute stinkers.He allowed five earned in 2 2/3 innings against Milwaukee two starts ago and has an outing where he allowed seven in 2 2/3 and 10 in five innings. He is coming off a strong start in Anaheim, allowing two hits and a run over six innings. Martinez doesn’t walk many batters (5.7 percent walk rate is tied for the 10th-best in baseball) but also has the eighth-lowest strikeout rate among qualified starters (17.6 percent). Martinez throws six different pitch types more than 10 percent of the time. He leads with a four-seamer (21 percent) and also offers a cutter (20.6 percent), change (19.6 percent), sinker (16.8 percent), slider (11.3 percent) and curve (10.7 percent).

Enrique Hernandez returns to the lineup after being activated off the IL yesterday. He gets the start at third and will also start there tomorrow, but is expected to also play some left and center. Alex Freeland slides over to second today.

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Not many updates, but Max Muncy is still progressing.

Dave Roberts said Max Muncy is progressing well. He said Muncy will need a rehab assignment before returning.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 26, 2025

Yesterday it was reported that he could return on the next road trip. He’ll need a rehab assignment before coming back.

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The 2026 schedule was announced today, and the Dodgers are finally starting the season at home again.

MLB just announced its 2026 schedule. The Dodgers will open on March 26 at home against the Diamondbacks.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 26, 2025

They’ll open the season March 26 against Arizona in LA. This is big news for those of us that have woken up at like 2 AM the last two seasons to write about their openers in Korea and Japan.

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First pitch is at 7:10 PM PT and will be on SportsNet LA.